2000 Shaquille O'Neal vs 2021 Giannis Antetenkoumpou

[Lebron23]

Who's the better Player?

[HunterSThompson]

Who's the better Player?

kang

[BigShotBob]

Mods....delete this thread.

[Phoenix]

2000 Shaq is a GOAT tier peak. I'm sure people will look at Giannis stats and argue so is this, but the 7th man nowadays can drop 40 if he had a good 3 point shooting night. Different era. Going to Shaq level already is a bridge I cant cross yet. Congrats to Giannis, though, for real.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Giannis is better. He is better defensively and just as productive offensively. Giannis is feared on switches and defense is mroe consistent, also more adaptable to other eras to guard in space.

That's why kawhi beating giannis in 2019 was more impressive then Duncan beating shaq in 2003.

Giannis is the GOAT big man. The only players who come close are top of the line jordan kawhi lebron. Not even Durant/bird guys make the cut.

See how impressive giannis is? Only kawhi can beat him if guys like zaza and ingles stop cheat shotting him when he's up by 20+ points then kawhi would NEVER lose. Kawhi is the only match for giannis

[RRR3]

Giannis is better. He is better defensively and just as productive offensively. Giannis is feared on switches and defense is mroe consistent, also more adaptable to other eras to guard in space.

That's why kawhi beating giannis in 2019 was more impressive then Duncan beating shaq in 2003.

Giannis is the GOAT big man. The only players who come close are top of the line jordan kawhi lebron. Not even Durant/bird guys make the cut.

See how impressive giannis is? Only kawhi can beat him if guys like zaza and ingles stop cheat shotting him when he's up by 20+ points then kawhi would NEVER lose. Kawhi is the only match for giannis
Not every thread has to be about Kawhi.

[Phoenix]

Giannis is better. He is better defensively and just as productive offensively. Giannis is feared on switches and defense is mroe consistent, also more adaptable to other eras to guard in space.

That's why kawhi beating giannis in 2019 was more impressive then Duncan beating shaq in 2003.

Giannis is the GOAT big man. The only players who come close are top of the line jordan kawhi lebron. Not even Durant/bird guys make the cut.

See how impressive giannis is? Only kawhi can beat him if guys like zaza and ingles stop cheat shotting him when he's up by 20+ points then kawhi would NEVER lose. Kawhi is the only match for giannis

So pretty much by elevating Freak over Shaq, you can now claim Kawhi beat a player better than peak Shaq. Shameless.

Can you please deep throat a stick of dynamite? I got matches on me and will make it quick, you have my word.

Also, VORP.

[Gougou]

Could be Giannis imo...

1st game didn't do well because of a leg injury, imagine if Giannis was healthy.
His opponents are more skilled, CP3, Booker, Ayton, Bridges, Crowder.
He got guard by Ayton, 20 pt/10 reb guy, umm who guarded Shaq???
Came back down from 0-2 carrying his team to win the ring.

[RRR3]

Could be Giannis imo...

1st game didn't do well because of a leg injury, imagine if Giannis was healthy.
His opponents are more skilled, CP3, Booker, Ayton, Bridges, Crowder.
He got guard by Ayton, 20 pt/10 reb guy, umm who guarded Shaq???
Came back down from 0-2 carrying his team to win the ring.
Shaq dominated the DPOY and one of the GOAT defenders in 2001 lol

[Gougou]

Shaq dominated the DPOY and one of the GOAT defenders in 2001 lol

Yeah if evaluate by player wise peak Shaq better.

But if it is 2000 Shaq finals vs 2021 Giannis finals I still think Giannis did better.

[Gohan]

Shaq dominated the DPOY and one of the GOAT defenders in 2001 lol

this is a trash post, mutumbo sucked ass. he got his dpay off of reputation for blocked shots. when he played a real Nikka like shall he got exposed. I'm kind of biased cause i like shaq though

[Dbrog]

Obviously 2000 Shaq was better, but as others are saying, that form of him was possible MDE.

However, if you youngsters ever wondered what young Orlando Shaq was like, look at Giannis now. Respect to Giannis for getting hacked consistently with no calls (like Shaq). Don't give me that free throw stat crap either. Of course he's gonna take more being aggressive everytime vs jumpers from the Suns. It's also worth noting this shows how absolutely dominant Shaq was for the entirety of his career in the league whereas people forget, Giannis came in the league at like....16yo and has been playing for 10 years already before reaching YOUNG Shaq point (also means I think Giannis will have a great peak but low longevity at the top given the wear and tear). I just think people forget Giannis came into the league in the Anthony Bennet draft class :oldlol: quite a long time ago

[Bronbron23]

Who's the better Player?

Gotta go shaq especially if we're talking early 2000's. Scoring was more difficult and the paint was more packed. Greek wouldn't as many opportunities to get to the hole. He'd still be great though. Shaq would just be a bit greater.

[Phoenix]

Obviously 2000 Shaq was better, but as others are saying, that form of him was possible MDE.

However, if you youngsters ever wondered what young Orlando Shaq was like, look at Giannis now. Respect to Giannis for getting hacked consistently with no calls (like Shaq). Don't give me that free throw stat crap either. Of course he's gonna take more being aggressive everytime vs jumpers from the Suns. It's also worth noting this shows how absolutely dominant Shaq was for the entirety of his career in the league whereas people forget, Giannis came in the league at like....16yo and has been playing for 10 years already before reaching YOUNG Shaq point (also means I think Giannis will have a great peak but low longevity at the top given the wear and tear). I just think people forget Giannis came into the league in the Anthony Bennet draft class :oldlol: quite a long time ago

Young Orlando Shaq still had size on Giannis and parked 5 feet from the basket. Giannis gets the ball on the perimeter and plays downwind from there. That wasn't young Shaqs game. That being said, its entirely possible Shaq comes into the league today with a game closer to Giannis than the Shaq we saw in 92. Centers aren't being build to play that way anymore.

[Manny98]

Shaq but it's closer than some people would like to think

Giannis is a better defender and a much better playmaker and ball handler and is just as good as a scorer if not better

[DMAVS41]

Shaq, but I like this comparison as it makes more sense than comparing Giannis to Lebron or KD.

[ImKobe]

Giannis easily. Shaq was never half the defensive player that Giannis currently is and his offensive game was much more limited.

[Rudeboy3]

Giannis, if it wasn't for the first game where he was covering from a knee injury he averaged 38/15/5 in the playoffs with elite defence, something shaq can't say he's ever done

[Micku]

Shaq for me.

Comparing across eras is a bit iffy for me. I think with Giannis they were playing more single coverage in the finals. They weren't crowding the paint or doubling teaming him. With Shaq, you stick the whole team on him, and it didn't matter. Although Shaq and other ppl said if Shaq were to play in this era, he would play like Giannis. His teammates comment that Shaq didn't really show everything he could do, due to the era and how center suppose to play. Shaq just took advantage of using his size and dominating in the paint.

Giannis very well could be a modern day Shaq. But they obviously play different. Shaq more post moves and better footwork in the post than Giannis. Giannis like to beat you off the dribble. Due to his freakest athleticism, it's very hard to guard.

This is close imo because of the way Giannis played defense. While Shaq was a very good rim protector when he tried, and help change the rules due to his massive size and abusing his presence in the paint, Giannis tries harder.

But watching Shaq seems like he was unstoppable because he was too big, too strong and too agile for a guy that size. More so than Giannis. And Shaq didn't settle. Giannis does and isn't as good as hiding his weakness like Shaq did, although he played great in the finals and throughout the playoffs.

I never seen anyone who played like Giannis on both offense and defense like that in the finals. Maybe Hakeem. There are other players who played elite o and d too like MJ and LeBron in his Miami days, but none Giannis took it a step further with the defense this time around to me.

[1987_Lakers]

This thread if funny, Giannis is a baller there is no doubt about that, but prior to the playoffs/Finals most considered Giannis below Durant & a healthy LeBron and now all of a sudden he's better than 2000 Shaq? :oldlol:

Shaq was the undisputed best player in the league throughout the 2000 season.

[SouBeachTalents]

Giannis easily. Shaq was never half the defensive player that Giannis currently is and his offensive game was much more limited.
Shocker :lol

[StrongLurk]

Definitely 2000 Shaq...NBA has the dumbest fan base man.

[Phoenix]

Giannis easily. Shaq was never half the defensive player that Giannis currently is and his offensive game was much more limited.

I suspect there's a drop of 'minimize Shaq to prop Kobe ' here, because there is not a single player.....ever....who you can say '2000 Shaq or player X' and the answer is 'easily player X'. There's maybe 3 or 4 players in the history of the league you'd pick 2000 Shaq over in general if we're talking peaks, let alone 'easily', and Giannis right now isn't one of them. Even comparing offensive games, you could say Shaqs offensive game is limited compared to a number of players, but it's not like Giannis is Hakeem out there. And what Shaq was doing offensively in 2000, limited as you claim to be, wasn't being stopped. It was either an easy 2 within 5 feet or put him on the line where yes, he was a liability, but he was fouling out entire frontlines in the process and compromising the opponents interior defense, when such a thing actually mattered.

[Wally450]

Yikes. Shaq by an absolute mile.

[Pointguard]

Shaq was 90% power 10% finess/athleticism. Giannis is 40% power and 20% finess, 20% athletic, 10% instinct, 10% other. Giannis has to see what the defense offers. Shaq took the low post and position. Giannis has the same force of determination but can't automatically just claim a position next to the basket and isn't wide enough to sheild off a defender every time. Giannis is quicker and has a superior first step. Giannis has to figure out which powers he is going to use whereas Shaq just hulked his way through all obstacles and would get favorable calls. Shaq had reserve powers in good foot movement and could finess.

Shaq was pure beast mode. It is amazing that Giannis doesn't overthink the game.

[red1]

shaq was too unfair



he was bullying legit centers what he would do to modern powerforwards would be abuse

[j3lademaster]

Shaq was 90% power 10% finess/athleticism. Giannis is 40% power and 20% finess, 20% athletic, 10% instinct, 10% other. Giannis has to see what the defense offers. Shaq took the low post and position. Giannis has the same force of determination but can't automatically just claim a position next to the basket and isn't wide enough to sheild off a defender every time. Giannis is quicker and has a superior first step. Giannis has to figure out which powers he is going to use whereas Shaq just hulked his way through all obstacles and would get favorable calls. Shaq had reserve powers in good foot movement and could finess.

Shaq was pure beast mode. It is amazing that Giannis doesn't overthink the game.Lol. you don't think Giannis had favorable calls all series long? Shaq got away with offensive foul no calls, but he still has to make the basket. Giannis got bailed out on virtually every missed shot.

[Pointguard]

Lol. you don't think Giannis had favorable calls all series long? Shaq got away with offensive foul no calls, but he still has to make the basket.
LOL, he eliminated the defense. He didn't have to make the basket - there was simply no body there to stop him after he eliminated the defense. Giannis would be more unstoppable than Shaq if he got "offensive foul no calls." Giannis is way more nimble with the best first step in the game. Shaq was just bulldozing people. Giannis, who is much quicker and slicker gets that foul called on him frequently. If Giannis gets to bulldoze, he's at 38 ppg.

[jlip]

I don't think that some people genuinely appreciate peak Shaq's dominance. Yeah. You can call his game ugly and brutal, but it was so dominant that teams were drafting and trading for players hoping just to contain him.

[Code Breaker]

Shaq by a good margin recency bias is crazy in this bitch :lol

[K Xerxes]

The comparison between Giannis and Shaq is that they exert a similar dominance on the interior over their peers respectively. But straight up Shaq crushes. This isn’t a fair comparison as you could argue Shaq 2000 over any version of any player ever.

[bobopenguin]

shaq on 2000? not even mj can beat that man.